Know how diagnostic radiology makes a key difference in patients' lives

A major field of medical science, diagnostic radiology specializes in diagnosing diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x-rays, mammography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound.

Radiologists employ diagnostic imaging techniques that let doctors look inside your body for clues about a medical condition. A variety of machines and techniques can create pictures of the structures and activities inside your body. The type of imaging your doctor uses depends on your symptoms and the part of your body being examined.

Here we list out some of the popular diagnostic imaging techniques:

1. X-rays

A type of radiation called electromagnetic waves, X-ray imaging creates pictures of the inside of your body. The images show the parts of your body in different shades of black and white. This is because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation. Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white. Fat and other soft tissues absorb less, and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs look black. The most familiar use of x-rays is checking for broken bones, but x-rays are also used in other ways. For example, chest x-rays can spot pneumonia. The amount of radiation you get from an x-ray is small.

2. Mammography

It is a specialized medical imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to see inside the breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, aids in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.

3. CT Scan

Computed tomography (CT) is a type of imaging. It uses special x-ray equipment to make cross-sectional pictures of your body.

Doctors use CT scans to look for

• Broken bones
• Cancers
• Blood clots
• Signs of heart disease
• Internal bleeding

During a CT scan, you lie still on a table. The table slowly passes through the center of a large X-ray machine. The test is painless. During some tests you receive a contrast dye, which makes parts of your body show up better in the image.

4. MRI Scan

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a large magnet and radio waves to look at organs and structures inside your body. Healthcare professionals use MRI scans to diagnose a variety of conditions, from torn ligaments to tumors. MRIs are very useful for examining the brain and spinal cord. During the scan, you lie on a table that slides inside a tunnel-shaped machine. Doing the scan can take a long time, and you must stay still. The scan is painless.

Before you get a scan, tell your doctor if you

• Are pregnant
• Have pieces of metal in your body. You might have metal in your body if you have a shrapnel or bullet injury or if you are a welder.
• Have metal or electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker or a metal artificial joint

5.Ultrasound

It is a type of imaging technology that uses high-frequency sound waves to look at organs and structures inside the body. Health care professionals use it to view the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver, and other organs. During pregnancy, doctors use ultrasound to view the fetus. Unlike x-rays, ultrasound does not expose you to radiation.

During an ultrasound test, you lie on a table. A special technician or doctor moves a device called a transducer over part of your body. The transducer sends out sound waves, which bounce off the tissues inside your body. The transducer also captures the waves that bounce back. The ultrasound machine creates images from the sound waves.

If you want to know more about diagnostic radiology, visit the Radio diagnosis department at Regency Healthcare.